Psychology and mental health

Social cognition and family relationships: comment

Article Abstract:

Cognitive aspects of family life in terms of information processing are important areas of research. Cognition in family relationship include components such as categories, definitions, attributions, comparisons, dissonance management and cognitive resource management. Relationships are the major phenomena in family life to be studied in social-cognitive research. They exist in an integrated network of ideas, actions and emotions. Further, research should include the nature and bases of change among social or cultural groups, processes of attribution and comparison and definitions.

Representations of early family relationships predict marital maintenance during the transition to parenthood

Article Abstract:

Marital maintenance, which involves engaging in behaviors that maintain closeness and is critical to sustaining marital satisfaction is examined in 234 husbands and wives across the transition to parenthood. Family interventions that can help couples recognize and explore problems that may accompany parenthood are discussed.

Communication during marital conflict: When couples alter their appraisal, they change their behavior

Article Abstract:

A sample of 77 married couples was observed, where within-person variance in cognitive appraisal was expected to predict corresponding within-person variance in communication behavior during conflict. Results were strongest for expectancies of partner understanding.